The Geek and the Ghost

Absolutely hilarious!! I laughed the whole way through this book which was so unexpected.

Ghost is so bloody snarky and sassy, but Rett absolutely matches him and they just have the funniest conversations and inner thoughts.

I loved Ghost saying he'd be married with kids by dinner and then it happens 😂😂😂

The plot was really engaging and I loved that we got so much of Kieran and Haz too. This series has been amazing so far and I hope there's more to come!

hrcyed3-read

haletostilinski

1,584 reviews715 followers

Beautiful, amazing, unputdownable, show stopping, brilliant - I loved every single second of this!

Ghost aka Hiro and his Pipgeek...or Rett as is his actual name, but he'll always be Pipgeek (Pip for short) to Ghost - were wonderful together, I ate them up from page one.

Rett is as sweet and adorable as he seemed in book one, but is also adorably willing to stand up for himself, in the cutest ways.

Just about as small as Haz, and with a chronic condition - rheumatoid arthritis - his whole life, and then living on the streets since he was 16, he's managed to maintain his innocence and sweet, kind personality despite it all. Even if other people in the world want to take advantage of that.

At 20, he's homeless and having a really hard time of it, and his chronic condition does nOT help matters in the least. When these thugs corner him for any money he has in a dark alley, Ghost is there and there's something about Rett that makes him come to the rescue for him and beat the men bloody, rescuing Rett and taking him to a motel for the night - although since Rett does get knocked around by the men a bit, he's a bit out of it and Ghost leaves before he sees him, but leaves food for him and keeps the room paid for the night for him.

Then for weeks he follows Rett around and stops anyone from hurting him, and Rett himself eventually deliberately goes to these bad parts of town, down dark alleyways, to get Ghost to come out of hiding from him and show him his face and so they can talk as well.

Ghost is a highly trained assassin, and while he clearly increasingly becomes obsessed with his Pip, he also feels he's no good for him, and he'll only bring harm into his life, and so he tries to stay away at the same time he really can't stay away.

Eventually it all culminates when Rett seemingly gets sick and lets another homeless person have his last bed in a shelter, and so is in boxes left in an alleyway, and Ghost steps in to bring him to a motel room again and take care of him while he gets better. They eventually end up sleeping together, but Ghost is called on a job by the government and has to leave - and he tells himself he'll be leaving for good, because it's better for Rett if he's out of his life.

Fast forward 2 years to present day, and Rett and Ghost are back in each other's lives. Present day picks up with the last book left off with the main story, where the fish place Haz works at was attacked and Pip was there and Ghost got shot protecting him.

Just like the first book, the main action in this takes place within a few days - I think even less than the almost week that happened between Haz and Kieran tbh - but it doesn't matter because not only do these two have an established connection from the past, but even if not the writing is so well done that you feel the connection between these two so much and it is done SO well.

Just like the first book, the pull between them is intense and passionate and all consuming and I LOVED it! I couldn't get enough of these two. I don't care if it had a bit of similar dynamics with Ghost the big, bad assassin and his sweet, small love in his Pip like with Kieran and Haz, I'll eat this type of dynamic up every time. Plus, they were different from them anyway, especially Ghost, he's got his dark side and his angst, of course, but he was a bit more lighthearted and silly at times than Kieran. Where he's always serious, Ghost is a little less so. Not when it comes to his little Pipgeek, but he is more open to humor and sassy one liners.

My saying "my guyyy" throughout this was hilarious. This big, bad, tough assassin saying that in a silly tone is just a hilarious image.

The main plot in this ties into what is totally going to be the next book's plot. Last book, Rett slept through those men trashing Haz's apartment, and that was because he took two pretty strong pills from the local neighborhood drug dealer - I think they were pain killers - to try to get some relief from his chronic pain with this condition.

So now that guy wants "payment" from Rett in the form of him working for him, but Ghost is not having it. He, of course, will burn down the world for his Pip.

The guy also happens to work for Enzo, now the head of the Salvatore crime family and Haz's uncle. It's suspected the guy, Tommy, is stealing from Enzo, and it seems Enzo will he left to deal with all that, but then the guy takes a friend of Rett's that he's only known a few months, Wyatt, and Rett refuses to sit this one out.

Ghost wants to refuse him, but who else will bend these dangerous men to their will but their loves, right?

Of course things don't go perfectly and Ghost has to get savage to save the man he loves.

It was absolutely great seeing him lose his shit over his Pip being hurt or worse. Will burn down the world for his love, indeed.

Every second of this was as amazing as the first book and I absolutely recommend it. Gimme more dangerous men who go soft for only one, their sweet and adorable pint-sized men with hearts of gold, who are just so good that they melt these hard men's exteriors. I LIVE for this trope.

I can't wait for Enzo and Wyatt next, as they are the clear next couple in this series, for sure. How they know each other, I'm eager to find out as well, as Enzo clearly is already emotionally attached to Wyatt. But who is Wyatt and why was he on the streets for the last few months, skittish and running at any opportunity?

Ohhh I can't wait to find out these answers! Until then!

These series is *chefs kiss*

P.S. Nice shoutout to Fletcher and Ethan from the book Prince in this, nice to have that connection to this world and this great couple. I also recommend that book if you haven't read it yet!

My Ratings for The Protectors Series:

🔆 The Hazard and the Hitman: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 The Geek and the Ghost: 5 stars

age-gap angst assassin-s

theshadyivy

326 reviews45 followers

July 11, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🫦🫦🫦

I have been waiting for this one, and the moment it was available, I devoured it whole. Zero regrets. 🖤

Everything I loved about this series is back and turned up several notches — deep, complex characters, raw emotion, suspense, crime, and banter so sharp it could cut glass. 😏 And the cameo of Kieran and Haz? Absolutely loved it. 👀

Cambria has this extraordinary gift of making you genuinely emotional one moment and laughing out loud the next, and she does it so effortlessly that it almost feels unfair. 😂🖤 Rett's sassiness had me completely obsessed, and watching Hiro finally allow himself to feel, to truly accept his place in this relationship, was everything.

And the little details? The plant dads. The liquid hugs. The over-the-top possessiveness that made my heart simultaneously melt and race. 🥺🔥 It's those touches that elevate a story from great to unforgettable.

The perfect continuation of a series that just keeps getting better. And Enzo & Wyatt? I am already not okay about it, and their book isn't even out yet. 👀🖤

Go read this if you love morally grey men who are absolutely feral for one specific person, emotional complexity wrapped in razor-sharp humour, and found family dynamics that sneak up on you before you even notice. 🖤🔥

🥛 Liquid Hugs
📋 House Rules
🪴 Plant Dads
👑 OTT Possessive
🔁 Obsessive
🛡️ Protective
💀 Touch Him & Die
🩺 Chronic Illness
📏 Size Difference
😏 Banter
☠️ Serial Unaliver

118/26

Showarst

1,222 reviews

The Geek and the Ghost by Cambria Hebert is book 2 in The Protectors series. I absolutely adored book 1, so I was very excited to receive an arc to read this one. We met both characters in book 1. Ghost, aka Hiro, is best friends and brothers with Kieran. Rett is friends with Haz. They knew each other in the past and never expected to see each other again.

This book is kinda divided into two parts: the past when they first meet and get to know each other and the present. I loved the beginning. I know the author was concerned it was too long, but it was perfect. It made me care about Rett and Hiro. I felt their chemistry and believed that they had thought about each other for the two years apart.

When they came back into contact, I was glad to see Hiro put Rett first. He had seen how Kieran and Haz made things work, so I think he was hopeful. I loved both of these characters so much. The addition of Rett’s condition and how Hiro stepped it up to be something positive and supportive in Rett’s life was so real. I cannot talk enough about how much I loved these two.

The ending was well done and I have to say that I am looking forward to Uncle Enzo and Wyatt’s story. This series has just been so enjoyable to me. I highly recommend it!

I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.

❀ Jess

933 reviews112 followers

I absolutely loved the previous book in this series but for this one it felt like the comedy was turned up all the way. This one felt like a comedy book with small pockets of seriousness and I prefer my reads the other way around so this wasn't my cup of tea. Still, I really liked Ghost and Pip. I'm not a fan of second chance so it's no surprise that part wasn't working for me either tho I was so happy to see that BOTH of them have not been with anyone else in all their time apart.

I am an insta-love enthusiast so I was eating up whenever they were being lovey dovey. 🥰 but other than that I was annoyed at the constant joking especially when I just wanted to see them have a conversation 😒

All in all, this one didn't work for me but i'm sure fans of comedy will love it.

Rae

285 reviews5 followers

I had SUCH a good time with this book! I think I liked it even more than the first one, but we do get plenty of time with Haz and Kieran in this one too! Ghost is hilarious! His snarky inner monologue had me laughing the whole time. I fucking LOVE an unhinged, possessive MC, and even more so when both MCs are possessive. Rett isn’t as unhinged as Ghost, but he’s definitely possessive too. LOVE the hurt/comfort, mercenary/civilian, rich/poor vibes. I liked the addition of the mafia ties in this one.

Now I can’t wait for Enzo and Wyatt’s story!!

Betty

642 reviews49 followers

This book was chaos. 😂 And I loved it.

There was a duality to these characters, especially Ghost, that I appreciated. There was so much humor and chaotic energy, but also a lot of heart and sweetness. I mean what hitman has rules for cuddling? Lol

Ghost (Hiro) 🔫 Rett (Pip)

These two meet while Rett is homeless and living on the street. Ghost protects him one night from a mugging and the again another night when he is cold, sick and huddled in a cardboard box. I love that the author spent the first part of the story on this initial time together; it gives the rest of the story its proper weight.

Each time after they meet, Ghost puts Rett in a hotel, gives him food, and something warm to wear. After the second life saving situation, they spend a night together in a hotel room, as Ghost takes care of Rett during his illness and they grow closer. Ghost tells him he’s leaving for a job and when Rett wakes up he’s gone, having left him with $5000, a hoodie, and food.

The story picks up 2 years later immediately following Book 1, after Ghost is shot at the fish store. We see Rett struggle to trust Hiro and his intentions and we see Hiro not let him go - literally following him around the city in nothing but a pair of sweatpants.

It’s a bit bonkers, sometimes a bit schmoopy, but I really loved these two.

I mean, where else would you find:
- a hitman who considers plants to be his children
- a hitman who makes ridiculously endearing rules for everything
- a sweet, gentle man who’s homeless, but also relentlessly kind and resilient. Ghost calls him PipGeek because the only ID on him was a library card

Summary:
❤️No third act breakup
🗣️All the communication
👻Ghost/Hiro - Hitman w a heart who genuinely thinks he was ‘born to die’ until he meets Rett
📕 Rett - man who was so unloved by his parents that they thought he was faking his autoimmune disorder and tried to beat the gay out of him. He doesn’t let Ghost walk all over him, even when he kind of tries
❤️Both celibate during their two years apart; neither can stop thinking about the other
💊Some action w a drug dealer and the mafia - Rett takes two pain pills from the local dealer, who later shows up for payment
🫣No OM. Never mentioned.
😥Chronic pain/illness rep
🔫Possessive/ touch him and die vibes - Ghost can’t let Rett out of his sight.
🌶️Spice - early and often, but not excessive. Open door. Ghost wishes that Rett could have his babies.
👥Dual POV; HEA. Living together. Builds him a library in their new home where they live across from Haz/Kieran.

Overall, a hitman with a secret marshmallow center who meets his match. Fun, chaotic story that matches the main character’s energy. Enjoy!

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

insta low-angst mm

Monikat

1,815 reviews52 followers

July 13, 2026

Rtc

I laughed. A lot

crime dark hurt-comfort

Sindu

493 reviews26 followers

Sweet and entertaining, opposites attract romance!

"I wanted to tell you that, above all the things you’ve been able to buy, what I am grateful for most are the things you’ve given me for free. Love. Safety. A place to belong. Thank you for living for me. For us.”

Book one was so fun, but this one really takes it up a notch! I love a good second chance story, and this one had me invested even before we got to the second chance portion.

“You aren’t an illness, Pip,” I swore, hoping he saw the absolute obsession in my stare. “You’re my cure.”

This book is told in two parts. The first quarter is the before, when Rett and his Ghost met for the first time. Rett's been living on the street for a few years. But no matter what happens, he doesn't lose his light or his capacity to spread love. When he's mugged one night, the last thing he expects is to be rescued by a stranger. After that, his mystery hero keeps showing up to rescue him from bad situations. One night, when Rett falls really sick, Ghost finds him and takes care of him. What was a casual appreciation, turns into so much more after that night. They fall hard and fast, but Ghost has a life that has no space for someone as precious as Rett, so he leaves and doesn't look back.

“Even if the world goes back to blurry, I will never forget your details because now I know them by heart.”

Fast forward two years, and Ghost and Rett find their way back to each other when their besties fall in love. There's no denying that their love for each other hasn't faded one bit, though I am glad that they didn't just fall back into each other and Rett made Ghost grovel a bit for actually ghosting him. Rett has such a sweet soul, and he definitely deserves someone who's willing to fight for him, and Ghost is the perfect person for that.

“No one’s ever loved me before.” He lowered my feet to the floor to wrap his arms around me. “I’m sorry I was late.”

These two fill up all those empty spaces in their lives and really complete each other. Ghost showers Rett with all the love and gives him that safe space he's been missing all his life. The way he accepts Rett unconditionally is so special. He's always finding new ways to make sure Rett feels seen and knows that he's loved exactly as he is. And Rett shows Ghost there's still light and joy left in this world that's let him down over and over again. He gives him a home and a reason to truly live.

“Survival isn’t good enough for you, little mouse. I want you to thrive.”

I fell for these two during the before times and I adored the HEA they got in the present. The suspense portion of this book is pretty minimal, but it does introduce us to a potential new couple! I'm intrigued by them and excited to read their story. I love the way this found family keeps growing. This book really fleshed out those bonds from book one, with Kieran and Ghost's brotherly love and Haz and Rett's bestie love. They're just so sweet and they kept me so entertained. If you enjoyed book one, then be sure to pick this one up!

Britney

74 reviews3 followers

This book was fantastic.

Hiro is exactly the kind of character I gravitate toward—a full-blown chaos goblin with absolutely no interest in behaving himself. Naturally, I adored him.

The real surprise, though, was Rett.

Instead of trying to tame Hiro's chaos, he met it head-on. Their banter was effortless, their chemistry undeniable, and watching them bounce off each other was easily one of my favorite parts of the book.

What impressed me most, however, was Cambria Hebert's writing.

Some of the prose in this book is genuinely stunning. It isn't flowery for the sake of being flowery, nor does it ever slow the story down. Every beautiful line felt intentional, woven seamlessly into the dialogue and narrative. There was an almost musical rhythm to the conversations—an ebb and flow that, at times, made me feel like I was watching a play unfold rather than simply reading a novel.

It's a difficult balance to strike, and Cambria Hebert made it look effortless.

Between the humor, the heart, the heat, and the gorgeous writing, this ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year.

Verdict:
Witty, heartfelt, beautifully written, and ridiculously entertaining. This wasn't my first Cambria Hebert novel, and it definitely won't be my last. By the time you hear from me again, she may have earned herself a permanent spot on my favorites shelf.

ARC Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-book copy of this title as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vanessa V

133 reviews11 followers

July 11, 2026

ARC REVIEW

Imagine stalking someone and calling it location services as a love language. 😂

Ghost is a hitman, completely unhinged, and obsessed with his little Pipsqueak.

Unfortunately, disappearing for 2 years is not exactly boyfriend material.
So naturally, he has some groveling to do.

Taking a bullet for Rett? Great start to a redemption arc….
Chasing him practically naked through the city when Rett has the AUDACITY to run away after Ghost just took a bullet for him?
Even better. 😂
Saving him from a drug lord?
And voilà… we’ve reached let’s move in together territory 🤷‍♀️😂

But Ghost and Kieran’s reluctant friendship absolutely stole the show for me. Or should I say Kieran’s reluctance to admit they’re friends? 😂

Ghost is pure chaos. His thoughts are unhinged, the things coming out of his mouth are somehow even worse, and watching everyone around him deal with his complete lack of a filter was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I liked Ghost and Rett separately, but their romance didn’t completely work for me. Rett felt a little too helpless at times, and his character reminded me too much of Haz from book 1.

Still, the humor, the writing style, and Ghost being Ghost made this a really fun read.

Dea Farrell

966 reviews13 followers

July 15, 2026

This book starts two years before The Hazard And The Hitman, then it fast-forwards to right where we left off in book one. So if you haven't read book one, I highly suggest you do because, one, you will be missing out on some background story for this book, and two, it's just an awesomely fun read. Here we have Rett and Ghost's story. I loved these two boys so much! Rett may not have a home, money, or much else to his name, but he has his library card. Ghost likes stalking around in the shadows, making rules, and is a trained killer. The first time Ghost lays eyes on Rett, he decides that Rett is his. Ghost is super protective and possessive of those he loves and cares about, and it's incredibly sexy, but he also has this quirky, funny side to him, too. Rett was such a sweet, humble character. Despite everything he went through in life, he still remained the kindest, giving soul. This book had everything you could want in a romance: banter, humor, heart-melting moments, spice, and action. I can't wait for Enzo and Wyatt's story and to hopefully catch up with all Ghost, Rett, Haz, and Kieran again!

Ally

426 reviews45 followers

July 5, 2026

Cambria is back again with another MM book filled with possessive behavior and I still absolutely live for it! I love the way she writes. It's so over the top and I love that so much. I was so excited for this book after reading book one! While you don't HAVE to read book one, I strongly suggest you do. Book one is fantastic, so it won't be a hardship, I promise.

Rett is homeless and struggling to survive when Ghost crosses his path. Ghost and Rett share an instant connection. Ghost knows immediately that he will do anything to keep Rett safe. It's not that easy though. Ghost's job keeps him from staying with Rett.

This book is definitely more character driven than anything else. The plot doesn't really pick up until the last 20%. I am SO EXCITED for a future book being teased!!! Uncle Enzo I'm looking at you, boo.

-hurt/comfort
-possessive/overprotective MC
-auto-immune disorder rep
-found family

Courtney Williams

5 reviews

July 11, 2026

what even is this…

I stopped half way through because I literally didn’t even know what I was reading. This felt like it was written by a 13 year old who has severe ADD and whose diet consists exclusively of energy drinks and pixie sticks. I don’t remember the first one being this bad but maybe I’ve blocked it out of my memory?

Like what is the plot? What’s with all the weird disjointed dialogue? All of it is nonsensical. And the diction is just weird and wrong. It reminds me of when I was in middle school and I would try to use big words I didn’t quite know the meaning of to sound more sophisticated and smart. For example, eyeballs of human beings can’t be “luminant.” I guess anyone can write a book these days, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

-`♡´-

254 reviews2 followers

"Kieran might have kept me from dying. But you? You, my love, you brought me back to life."

"Ride or die," I whispered. "You walked into this life for Kieran. But I'm walking into it for you."

"I learned that safety wasn't the absence of fear. It was his presence."

3.5 ⭐ rounded up cause I enjoy Cambria's writing.

-1.5 as it took me awhile to get into it and I cannot get behind the pet name "pipgeek."

I am intrigued enough to go back and read The Hazard and the Hitman.

Received an ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

Carol

1,183 reviews79 followers

I was already a big fan of this world and series by the author, and now? BOY OH BOY, I am obssessed. Rett and Hiro are so freaking entertaining to read about, as well as so well develped with the yearning and intensity of their feelings...I couldn't even breath sometimes because of how much I coulf feel them clinging to each other even when separated. I loved the plot and I loved that the romance was bigger than the plot itself, but the high stakes and mafia having an important context in their romance.
(interested to see where the next one takes me hehe)

arc lgbtqia read-2026

Sarah☀️ Somerville

2,474 reviews27 followers

Did Not Finish

DNF @ 35% - I didn't mind the scenes from the past, but once the book switched to the present it was just ridiculous and I lost interest.

m-m-romance

Chantel Latour

13 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

July 7, 2026

Review of advance copy received from Author

THE GEEK AND THE GHOST BY CAMBRIA HEBERT

📚🖤 Book Tropes:
🔫 Hitman x Homeless Geek
🩹 Hurt/Comfort
💚 Insta-Love (that actually makes perfect sense)
🏡 Found Family
🛡️ Protective MMC
📖 Book Lover x Dangerous Man
🤏 Size Difference
💀 Touch-Him-and-Die
❤️ He Falls First...and Hard
🩹 Healing Through Love
🥹 Cinnamon Roll Hidden Under a Killer Exterior

Ghost... or rather Hiro, absolutely stole my heart. 🥹

When Rett is nearly beaten to death by a group of thugs, Ghost steps in without hesitation, saving a stranger who has nothing and no one. After nursing him back to health, they go their separate ways... until Rett goes looking for the mysterious man who saved him, only to become desperately ill once again. And once again, Ghost finds him... and takes care of him.

That was the moment I knew this book was going to own my heart.

Ghost may be one of the deadliest hitmen around, but underneath all that danger is a man with the biggest, softest heart imaginable. He's fiercely loyal, incredibly protective, hilarious when you least expect it, and completely melts whenever it comes to Rett. Watching this terrifying assassin turn into absolute mush for the tiny bookworm he affectionately calls Pip because of his love of books and his smaller size was everything. 😭📚❤️

"I'd kill for you," I whispered. "Would you live for me too?"

Tell me how I was supposed to recover after that?! 😭💔❤️

And then there was this...

"The second I saw you standing in the middle of this place, I knew. You're the heartbeat. My heartbeat. A heart can't live inside a dead body. You deserve more than an empty shell."

I was DONE. Absolutely finished. 🥹❤️

Yes, this is an insta-love story—but it's one of those rare romances where every emotion feels earned. Hiro sees something in Rett that no one else ever has: a future. A life filled with love, happiness, and peace that he never believed he deserved. Rett, after enduring abuse and neglect for most of his life, finally discovers that there really are people who will protect him, cherish him, and love him exactly as he is.

Hiro never wants to change Rett. He doesn't want him to be tougher or different. He simply wants him to be happy, safe, loved, and cared for. That kind of unconditional love hit me right in the heart. ❤️

"You walked into this life for Kieran. I'm walking into it for you."

Excuse me while I go cry all over again. 😭

And then...

"My arms tightened around him. Damn this cotton candy heart."

WHO GAVE THIS HITMAN A COTTON CANDY HEART?! 🥹🍭

Every interaction between Hiro and Rett felt genuine, sweet, protective, and full of quiet devotion. Hiro's softer side only exists because of Pip, and Pip finally gets the family and unconditional love he's deserved his entire life.

Their connection was beautiful from beginning to end.

I also have to say how much I've loved every couple in this series so far:

❤️ The grumpy, lovable brute.
🐾 The clumsy, adorable animal lover.
👻 The funny, fiercely loyal Ghost.
📚 The cautious, caring bookworm, Rett, who finally finds the family he's always deserved.

And honestly...

"Somebody better put that on my gravestone 'cause I damn near swooned to death."

Because SAME. 😂💀

This was such a wonderful addition to an already incredible series. Hiro and Rett completely captured my heart, and I'll be thinking about these two for a very long time.

If you love protective heroes who are secretly giant softies, hurt/comfort, found family, unwavering devotion, and a love story that proves even the darkest souls deserve happiness, The Geek and the Ghost is one I can't recommend enough.

🖤📚👻 Pip & Hiro forever. ❤️ They didn't just find love... they found home.

Cambria Hebert

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Mia Book Addict

283 reviews24 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

July 7, 2026

If you know me, then you already know that Cambria Hebert is one of my all-time favorite authors, so saying I was excited for The Geek and the Ghost would be a massive understatement. Ever since finishing The Hazard and the Hitman, I had been counting down the days until Ghost got his story, and I can happily say this book exceeded every expectation I had.
Cambria has this incredible ability to blend laugh-out-loud humor, heart-melting romance, edge-of-your-seat action, and deeply emotional moments into one unforgettable story, and The Geek and the Ghost is another perfect example of why I adore her writing so much.
Rett absolutely stole my heart. From the very first pages, all I wanted to do was wrap him up in a blanket, feed him something warm, and protect him from absolutely everything. Despite everything life has thrown at him, he somehow manages to stay kind, funny, stubborn, and full of hope. His resilience is inspiring, and underneath all of his sass is someone who simply deserves to be loved. Watching him slowly realize that maybe—just maybe—someone could choose him without expecting something in return completely melted my heart.
Then there’s Ghost… and oh my goodness, I loved him even more than I expected to. He’s dangerous, intimidating, fiercely protective, and somehow one of the funniest characters in the entire series. His tendency to disappear just as quickly as he arrives had me laughing and groaning in equal measure, but underneath the deadly assassin persona is a man carrying so much guilt and believing he doesn’t deserve happiness. Watching those walls slowly come down because of Rett was everything I wanted.
The chemistry between Ghost and Rett was everything I hoped it would be. Their banter is sharp, hilarious, and completely effortless, and I loved how Ghost’s constant “pipgeek” nickname slowly became something surprisingly endearing. They challenge each other, make each other laugh, and somehow find light even in the darkest moments. Their relationship never feels rushed; it grows through trust, vulnerability, and countless little moments that made me fall for them even harder.
One of my favorite things about this series is the incredible cast of characters, and I was so happy to spend more time with Haz and Kieran. It felt like catching up with old friends, and watching the bonds between all four men grow into a true found family was one of the highlights of the book. Their loyalty, chaos, and unwavering support for one another brought so much warmth to an otherwise dangerous world.
I also want to mention how thoughtfully Cambria handles Rett’s chronic illness and disability. It’s an important part of who he is, but it never defines him. Instead, it adds depth to his character and makes his strength, determination, and optimism even more inspiring. It’s handled with care and authenticity, which made me appreciate Rett even more.
By the time I turned the final page, I was smiling with that bittersweet feeling you get after finishing a book you never wanted to end. The Geek and the Ghost is funny, emotional, action-packed, swoony, and full of heart—the perfect combination of everything I love about Cambria Hebert’s writing. Ghost and Rett have become another unforgettable couple, and once again Cambria has delivered a story that will stay with me long after I’ve finished reading.
Now comes the hardest part… waiting for book three! After that little glimpse of what’s to come, I am beyond excited for Uncle Enzo’s story. If the first two books are anything to go by, I already know I’m going to be counting down the days until I can get my hands on it.
Happy reading!

Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: Yes
Would I read future books by this author: 100%

e-ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The review was originally posted on: https://miabookaddict.com/

Linda Ketter

819 reviews3 followers

Review of advance copy

The Geek and the Ghost is book 2 in The Protectors series and follows Ghost battling his attraction to Rett, also known as Pip.

Ghost is a sanctioned hitman working for the government. He gets a call and he goes where he is told to resolve a problem. He earned his name by being able to blend with the shadows and sneak into places normal people are unable to. He and Kieran, from The Hazard and the Hitman, are best friends and share a military and hitman history.

Garrett "Rett" Redding has had a rough life. His parents did not believe him when he said he was always tired. He bruised easily. His got hurt easily. When he was finally diagnosed, his parents did not believe the doctor. Instead of treating the problem, they decided tough love was the better choice. When they found out he was gay, they thought even tougher love would fix him. He left home as a teenager and lived on the streets for years. Until one fateful night.

The first time Ghost finds Rett, Rett is in a dark alley trying to outrun neightborhood hooligans. Sadly, he is not fast or strong enough to evade them. B Faut Ghost steps in and takes care of the problem. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and these two meet again, in another alley, where Rett has crawled inside a box to rest for awhile.

Rett's life has been one challenge after another, so when Ghost shows him some kindness, he soaks it up. But when Ghost is forced to leave for a job, Rett feels abandoned.

Because of his job, Ghost never expected to see Rett again. He thought he would leave Buffalo and go somewhere warmer. It was what he planned to do initially until he ran out of money. Instead, he got an apartment and a job.

When Ghost and Rett come face to face at the Neon Reef at the end of The Hazard and the Hitman, it was a shock to both of their senses.

The day of reckoning has come. Rett will come clean about his life history, including his medical issues. Ghost will come clean about the life he was forced into courtesy of the Federal government.

But when trouble comes knocking at their door, it will take an army to resolve the issue.

One small mistake could cost Rett everything, and Ghost his sanity. Enter Haz's uncle Enzo. He needs this issue taken care of and taken care of NOW. So Ghost and Kieran do what they do best, with backup for Enzo and his men. Quite an army, if you ask me.

But when things do not go according to plan, will Ghost lose Rett to this threat?

Ghost is such a unique character. He has so much depth to him. We are not told about his childhood, but I wonder what it was like. His relationship with Kieran is brothers for life, with snarkiness to spare. The love he has to give and share is immense and anyone under his protection should feel so lucky.

Poor Rett. All I could think about is what more could happen to this poor boy. His life has not been easy, but he has managed to survive everything thrown at him. He is strong and resilient, while also being naive.

While one of my favorite moments in this book is Ghost calling Rett's plants his kids, it also tickled me that he claimed they were married even though they technically were not. But as far as Ghost was concerned they were bonded for life, with or without a ceremony and license. You go Ghost. You claim your man and let the whole world know he is yours.

Maddie

5 reviews

Content Warnings listed at the end (including spoilers)

This book was amazing. It was all I was expecting and more. I may have liked it even more than the first one? Not possible I thought! Rett and Hiro are EVERYTHING. Hiro is a perfect match for Rett. He has such a caring personality and a genuine love for him.

The first few chapters were sad yet beautiful. Reading about Rett struggling on the streets was difficult but worth it. We get to see Hiro really care for Rett. We also get to see Rett’s kindness to others. He genuinely cares for people. I was absorbed from the very first chapter and barely came up for air when reading.

Their relationship is just so sweet and good. I loved the representation of a character with an auto immune disorder. I didn’t know much about RA prior to reading but Rett (aka the author) inspired me to do some research. I now know more about people who live with RA.

Hiro and Rett genuinely loved each other. You can see it from the very start. I also enjoyed seeing Haz and Kieran again. Haz and Rett as best friends was so fun! They make a good chaotic match and can understand each other even better now that their respective partners are both hitmen.

The plants were precious. Hiro immediately adopted them and never made fun of Rett for his love of plants.

The liquid hugs😭 I can’t even function with Rett and his liquid hugs. The scene where Hiro threw them out the window was SO sad to me. Rett immediately gave him the liquid hugs, no hesitation even though that was all he had. Hiro didn’t understand and of course didn’t mean to hurt him. Rett suffered through so much. That he would carry hazelnut creamer (his least favorite) around just in case makes me so sad. I get why Hiro was upset that Rett relied on creamer but he still got it for him since it made him feel comfortable.

It may be cheesy but I honestly loved that Rett called him “hero” and his name ended up being Hiro. It’s not realistic but still so cute. And Rett keeping everything Hiro left?! The cookie?! So sweet.

There were some other cheesy lines where Ghost talks about how dark and bad he is which was a little cringey. Mostly because he wasn’t bad at all. But I understand Cambria’s intent was to showcase his negative thoughts of himself. His character was such an interesting mix of darkness and light. The perfect mix for Rett who spent so much of his life in darkness that he deserved the light.

I loved the tracker👀😂

Overall this is probably my first five star read of the year. I’m very picky about my star ratings but genuinely adored this book. Can’t wait for her next one!!
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Some Content Warnings Below (‼️SPOILERS‼️)

MC with Auto immune disorder
Death and gore (a little graphic)
MC with Abusive parents/family
Homophobic family
Hitmen obviously (off duty)
Homelessness
Military trauma
PTSD
Kidnapping of MC & SC
MC assaulted several times (not sexual)

Additional info (‼️SPOILERS‼️):

Third Act Breakup: No
Cheating: No
Main Characters Separated: Yes for 2 years. We do not read about the separation and they are always together in the present.

Amanda

2,532 reviews98 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

arc assassin-hitman disability-mental-health-rep

Ahhhh I loved The Geek and The Ghost so much 🥰 I could have read about Rett and Hiro for another 100 pages. As always Cambria Hebert has managed to created two MCs that capture your heart with their honetsy, vulnerability, sarcasm and steam . I'm loving all the characters in this series and can't wait for the next one ! 👻

Possessive
Plant daddy
Breeding kink
A pipgeek
A dark angel hero
Third wall breaking characters
Soup 🥣
Cuddling Rules
Coffee creamer hugs
Stalking as a love language
Auto-immune disorder rep

“It’s cool, Pip,” he said, starting to pull away. “I respect a personal space enthusiast.”

“Hearing my name from those lips turned out to be the ultimate distraction.”

His fingers were gentle when they pushed a strand of hair away from my face, and my gaze settled on his as though I’d been looking for him all my life. Found you.

Yes, I knew this was a little… pathetic. A three- way hug between me, a ghost stuffie, and a sock. But for someone who had next to nothing, this was everything.

Love shouldn’t take convincing. It should choose you without hesitation.

“Tell me what hurts, Pip,” he cajoled quietly, his voice sweeter than any bribe. “Hm?” I hummed. “Tell me what hurts so I can fix it.”

“I’d kill for you,” I whispered. “Would you live for me too?” My heart dropped hard enough to bruise, the ache blooming like a flower after a storm. How he found beauty in destruction— my destruction— I might never understand, but maybe I didn’t want to. At least not while he was looking at me like I was his entire universe and nothing else mattered.

“You will not die. I absolutely forbid it. You will protect yourself as if you are the most precious thing on earth… because you are.” I paused, remembering his words. “I can’t live unless you do.”

“I do not like being stalked,” he insisted. Little liar. “But, babe, location services are my love language.”

“You’re mine.” I claimed him. “I’m never letting you go.” Decision made. Conflict resolved. Consequences pending… If loving him ended up killing me, I’d at least make sure he survived.

“No one’s ever loved me before.” He lowered my feet to the floor to wrap his arms around me. “I’m sorry I was late.” My fingers curled into his back, and my eyes squeezed closed. “You were worth the wait.” “Welcome home, Pip. You’ll never go a day without love again.”

“Are you crying?” he demanded. “I’m emotionally hydrated!” I wailed.

He half smiled. “You aren’t the only vulnerable one, Pip. Turns out living is way scarier than death. It’s a lot more… uncertain.” A deadly hitman showing his vulnerable side? Frankly, if he got any hotter,

Abigail Beckwith

1,878 reviews

Here's Cambria Hebert's "The Geek and The Ghost." It's the second novel in the Protectors series.

["I’m about thirty seconds from a toe tag and my own freezer at the mortuary when he materializes from the shadows and fights like hell to keep me breathing.

I had no idea homeless disasters like me got guardian angels—or that guardian angels punch people and smoke—but suddenly, there he is: a hero dressed all in black who ghosts me so hard I consider calling a medium.

But that would be a waste of money I don’t have.

I thought I’d never see him again, but just as I’m about to eat a bullet, he appears, using his body to protect mine. I might have swooned—okay, fine, I do but only on the inside—if it weren’t for the fact he thinks bleeding is an adequate apology for implying I’m a prostitute and running off with my heart.

Spoiler alert: It’s not.

Now the man with a PhD in vanishing, a tattoo that totally offends me, and eyes with their own force of gravity is suddenly stuck to me like glue and being wildly inconvenient about it.

And he won’t stop calling me a pipgeek. What even is that?
He insists I trust him, but I can’t trust anyone, not even my own body. Unfortunately, when the resident drug lord calls in that favor I foolishly owe, things go from bad to catastrophic with alarming enthusiasm.

On the upside, having a hero with a villain complex for a stalker means staying alive will be easy.

But not getting hurt again is a whole other story."]

I love how soft this dark romance series is. Sure, there's hitmen and mafia threats and some light stalking. There's tragic backstories and trigger warnings. There's a total lack of tact, a total sense of over protectiveness and what's-happening-to-me obsession. There's falling in love in hours.

But the MCs, particularly the hitmen, are sooo soft and gooey for their soul mates, particularly the klutzy, slightly crazy, totally surviving in a world that somehow has it out for them. It's instant gifts and sweet names. It's ooey, gooey, cotton candy hearts just leaking everywhere with all of the feels. Not to mention the spice.

I looooved these two. They were perfect. Ghost's commentary was fucking hilarious. As was Ghost and Rhett's views of Kerian (still fucking love him--and Haz).

I cannot wait to see more of Wyatt. At least, I hope we get to see more of him.

Trigger Warnings: auto-immune disorder rep, homelessness, violence, murder, mentions of past abuse, and more.

#thehazardandthehitman #thegeekandtheghost #theprotectors #theprotectorsseries #cambriahebert #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

lgbt mm

Robin Bonser

5 reviews

alpha-hero alpha-protector arc

Thank you to Cambria Hebert and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy. As always, my review is my honest opinion.

Cambria Hebert has officially done it again!!

I absolutely loved Rett (Geek/Pip) and Hiro (Ghost). Their dynamic was everything I wanted it to be. The banter was effortless, funny, and perfectly timed, but underneath all of the sarcasm was so much heart. Rett and Ghost balanced each other beautifully. My favorite part of their relationship was that Ghost never tried to change Rett or "fix" him. He simply accepted every one of Rett's quirks, fears, and idiosyncrasies without hesitation. In return, Rett saw the man beneath Ghost's carefully crafted image and reminded him that he was so much more than what the world had forced him to become

I'm a huge sucker for hurt/comfort, and this book absolutely delivered. Rett has spent his life carrying far more than anyone should have to—homelessness, chronic illness, and an uncertain future—but somehow never loses his determination or optimism. Ghost may believe he's the villain, but it doesn't take long to see that he's so much more than the weapon he was created to be. Underneath the danger, strength, and carefully built walls is someone who just needed a person who could see the good in him and remind him that he deserved love too.

One of my favorite parts of this series continues to be the found family. I loved seeing familiar faces from The Hazard and the Hitman and watching everyone look out for each other, even when that love wasn't always appreciated in the moment. It was a great reminder that the family you choose can be every bit as strong—if not stronger—than the one you're born into.

Ghost's unexpected playfulness and constant snack obsession made me smile every time it showed up, especially because it was such a contrast to how the rest of the world saw him. And Rett? His resilience was impossible not to admire. Despite everything stacked against him, he kept choosing hope, one liquid hug at a time.

If you love found family, hurt/comfort, rescue fantasy, over-the-top protective heroes, "touch him and 💀" energy, snarky banter, chronic illness representation, size difference, suspense, and a hard-earned happily ever after, you need this book on your TBR.

Now, can we please talk about Wyatt and Enzo? Because after this book, I absolutely need their story.

Favorite Quotes

"You walked into this life for Kieran. But I'm walking into it for you."

"Blanket hoarding will not be tolerated. This is a partnership, not a rebellion."

"I'm not a crybaby, okay? I'm just emotionally hydrated."

Shabby -BookBistroBlog

2,033 reviews1,025 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

July 5, 2026

Eviscerating, angsty AF but, oh my weeping heart, it has so much “LOVE” in caps!!!
It squirmed it's way into my romantic heart & settled on a pink cloud of hope. It hits hard at points. Whenever “Pipgeek” Garrett Redding is shown on streets, crouching behind a piss soaked dumpster, whenever thugs are chasing him, I cried!!
That was not on my bingo card but here we are!
It HURTS and I Barely SURVIVED!

“Does it Hurt? ”
“I'll Survive”

He's a pint sized boy trying to survive his miserable life, trying to faceless my, nameless my blend in the shadows but danger keeps following him. More times than not he's at thr brink of death at the hands of family, fate, elements and demons, and every time their fingertips brushed Rett, my heart sank!!
I must've manifested hard because Out steps his guardian angel to save him, carry him, nurse him back to life. But he becomes the bane of his forgotten heart pretty soon. As much as I love gigantic, mysterious dark knights in Armour, the pint sized damsel - Rett, stole my heart. He maybe slight in stature, but every corner 8f his personality is filled with attitude and bravado, I loved him so much.

“This gem of innocence was even more rare because it was packaged up to look like my Achille’s heel.
My exact type.
Soft.
Slight.
Defiant in the face of cruelty.”

Off and on they go, with days to years in between, still the fire keeps burning.
The banter, the chemistry is sharp and spicy and I loved every minute of it
It's book 2 in the series and is recommended to be Read in order.
I didn't.
Hence Some things escaped me...so make what you will of that, but it's engaging nonetheless.
“4.5 stars “You can’t be in trouble if you are the trouble.” ”
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Sarah Slusarczyk

640 reviews

alpha-male angst best-contemporary-romance

Book two in The Protectors series, The Geek and the Ghost is a funny, low angst, second chance, MM romance. As always I recommend reading a series in order to get the most out of it, but each book can be read as a standalone in an interconnected world. G&G does have darker themes, so check your trigger warnings before reading.

This book is told in two separate parts, part one when Ghost and Rett first meet, like a flash-back in a way. Rett has been homeless during this time for years, living on the streets, doing his best to survive but not lose hope in a better future. During one particularly bad night, he gets mugged for the very little he has, and Ghost comes to his rescue. The two click right away, but Rett isn’t used to good things happening to him. To make things even worse for poor Rett, he then falls horribly ill, and yes again Ghost finds himself rescuing the man. Quickly the guys find themselves deeper than either of them thought possible, and that causes Ghost to cut and run in hopes of giving Rett the best chance at a future. One just without him.

Then, in part two, we fast forward to the present day where Ghost and Rett find themselves drawn together again, but this time thanks to their two closest friends. They are awkward towards one another at first, there is no getting around that, but they also can both still see they have feelings for one another. Rett isn’t acting like the world turns with Ghost anymore, oh no Rett makes Ghost sweat it a little bit. Ghost is determined however to make Rett understand just how much he means to him, even if it requires some kneeling and groveling. Once they do make up however, well lets just say that not everything is sunshine and rainbows.

Oh ho ho how I love a good MM romance, and not just because of the spicy bits. Ghost and Rett (Pip, I love this nickname btw) both come from backgrounds that you wouldn't think are similar, but together they start to build something that they both come to rely on more than anything else. Love. While the book is intense in sections, I find it to be more of a dark comedy romance, these two are so silly together, their banter really made the storyline pop. I also really enjoyed the interactions between the characters in book one, Kieran and Haz, it added a lot to the story to see more of Ghost and his brother and then Rett with his bestie. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and hope to see more additions to this series.

4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

💜 OTT Possessive
🤓 Great Banter
💜 Dark Comedy
🤓 MM

arc-s ku-reviews

Dolly

47 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

July 5, 2026

This is the second book in the protectors series.

I loved Kieran and Haz in the first book, they were one of my favorite couple but I think now Ghost and Rett have just outranked them.
I absolutely adored Ghost in the first book and I was a little bit suspicious of Rett in the first book and I’m happy to say I was wrong about him.

We met both Ghost and Rett in first book of the series. If you haven’t read the first book then you need to know how Ghosh and Rett fit into the series. Ghost is a hitman like his best friend Kieran. Except Ghost works better in shadows. Rett is Haz’s neighbor and they have become friends. This book tells the story of how Ghost and Rett paths cross.

Ghost comes across a homeless man who is a trouble magnet and who finds himself in a predicament. Ghost decides to step in and help him out. Rett has been living on the streets taking it one day at a time trying save enough money for a ticket out of Buffalo. One night he finds himself down a dark alley in a sticky situation until a hero steps out from the dark shadows and helps him. Unable to stay away from him, Ghost takes it upon himself to “protect” Rett. Then one night Ghost disappears and Rett doesn’t see him again. Until two years later their path cross again. Their feelings for each other haven’t changed and Ghost still wants to protect Rett.

I really loved Ghosts and Rett’s story. Ghost is hilarious even with the backstory he has. Rett backstory is even more sad but somehow he still has this innocence about him.

The loved the dynamic these two had with each other. I like how Ghost is supposed to be a tough scary guy but for Rett, he just folds and Rett knows he doesn’t need to be afraid of Ghost.

I like how Ghost didn’t treat Rett any different after he found out about Rett’s illness. Ghost’s touch him and die attitude had me laughing as I feel there was no in-between.

I really liked how both Ghost and Rett weren’t afraid to state their love each other even after so much time has passed.

Both Ghost and Rett’s one liners had me laughing so much. I enjoyed the guest appearance of Kieran and Haz. The whole dynamic of all four of them, was hilarious it gave me pure joy and happiness.

Overall I absolutely loved this book,
I couldn’t recommend it enough!

Tropes:
Rescue Fantasy
Touch Him & Die
Opposites Attract
Homeless MC
Hero with a villain complex
Snarky Banter
Chronic illness Rep
Found Family

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Ria Alexander

2,767 reviews52 followers

Review of advance copy

July 9, 2026

Falling hard was easy

After reading The Hazard and the Hitman, The Protectors #1, I knew that the next book was going to be just as humourous and emotional, and I wasn't wrong. THE GEEK AND THE GHOST exceeded my expectations. I laughed out loud, shed plenty of tears, and did a lot of swooning. It was difficult to put this book down. Cambria's writing always has my heart melting and this story was no different.

Garrett "Rett" Redding was always going to steal my heart, this forgotten, broken man had a resilience many others wouldn't have. He was forever looking at the brighter side of life, his inner strength was incredible. No matter what life threw at him he managed to maintain his humour, he was also extremely stubborn. For him there was always hope, and the chance that he would be loved, he deserved both.

Hiro "Ghost" Maxfield ... what can I say about the man with the "candy heart"? Hitman extraordinaire, stubborn, protective, loyal, dangerous, lethal, but there was another side to Ghost. He was obsessive, caring, tender, humourous, a man who literally became a marshmallow where his "pipgeek" was concerned.

I adored Rett and Ghost, falling hard for them was easy. When the two met under hertbreaking circumstances, Ghost's white knight protectiveness was instant and never ceased from that moment. "pip" became his everything. I loved that they fell hard for each other, their chemistry was there from the start, their banter was hilarious, their cuddling was divine, and their heat was delicious. They changed each other's lives in so many unexpected ways. They were destined for each other.

THE GEEK AND THE GHOST was a beautifully written love story which captured my heart. Rett's situation broke my heart as did Ghost's lack of belief in his own worth. Two broken men who healed each other amid snacks, plants, cuddling, and love. It was fun catching up with Hazard and Kieran. These four men the definition of a found family. You just knew when Rett and Hazard got together there was going to be some mischief. This was another fabulous story from Cambria, and I only hope that the hints of another couple come true.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ 5 STARS

Ana Silva

885 reviews13 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author